In just the year since the GOP took control of the House, there have been at least 159 votes held against environmental protections –including 83 targeting the Environmental Protection Agency –on the House floor alone, according to a list compiled by Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “Republicans have made an assault on all environmental issues,” said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the committee. “This is, without doubt, the most anti-environmental Congress in history.” Some of the efforts are broad-based, like the TRAIN Act, which would install overseers for the EPA and require cost considerations to trump health and science concerns for new rules. Another such effort is the REINS Act, which essentially requires Congress to approve all new regulations, essentially granting each chamber the ability to veto the executive branch.

This is what happens when your whole freshman class is beholden to Koch Industries.